HC stays proceedings of 72 cases against Star editor

The High Court today stayed for three months the proceedings of 72 cases against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam.

The court also issued a rule upon the authorities concerned to explain as to why the initiation and continuation of the cases should not be declared illegal.

The rule is returnable in three weeks, the court said.

Home secretary, inspector general of police and complainants of the cases have been made respondents to the rule.

The High Court bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by the Star editor challenging the legality of the case proceedings, barrister Abbas Uddin, a lawyer for Anam, told The Daily Star.

Earlier, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Amir Hossain granted Anam anticipatory bail after he appeared before the court and sought bail in the cases.

The case spree against the Star editor began days after he made an introspective comment at a TV talk show on February 3 about a lapse in his editorial judgment in publishing some reports, based on information given by the Taskforce Interrogation Cell during the 2007-08 caretaker government rule, without being able to verify those independently.

The cases against the Star editor have drawn condemnation from local and foreign journalists and their unions as well as human rights bodies.